Dubai launches first robot pharmacy

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has inaugurated its first ‘robot’ pharmacy at Rashid Hospital.

According to a report by news agency WAM, the robot can dispense prescribed medication at the click of a button based on a bar code, thus minimising any human error. The DHA will soon adopt the use of robot in all its hospitals.

The robot is one of the latest smart technologies adopted by the authority to meet the 2016-2021 strategy, which aims to achieve a happy and healthy society, said Humaid Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of DHA in the report.

The report further highlighted that the new technology can store up to 35,000 medicines and dispense around 12 prescriptions in less than a minute.

The smart pharmacy was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. Ali Al Syed, Director of the Pharmaceutical Services Department; Dr. Ahmad Bin Kalban, CEO of Hospital Services Sector, and Dr. Alya Al Mazroui, CEO of Rashid Hospital.

As the robot can dispense up to 12 prescriptions in less than a minute, it will significantly reduce a person’s waiting time, Dr. Al Syed said. He also highlighted that the dispensing process will be paper-free as the robot will store the prescription as soon as a doctor documents it electronically.